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Students in Grades 6-8 Encouraged to Create Slogan for Voters

The 24th annual Essay and Slogan Contest is underway, and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is encouraging all eligible students to enter submissions. The Contest addresses election-related issues and is intended to expand civic awareness of students who will soon be eligible to vote in local, state and national elections.

“October is Civics Month in Kentucky, and the Essay and Slogan Contest is an excellent opportunity for students to engage in our democratic system, with the possibility of winning valuable prizes,” said Grimes. “Especially in light of the trend of decreasing voter participation among the youngest demographics, I urge all students and teachers to demonstrate their commitment to active citizenship by participating in the Contest.”

Students in grades 6-8 are invited to participate in the voter slogan portion of the Contest, and students in grades 9-12 may take part in the essay portion. The first, second, and third place winners in the Slogan Contest will receive savings bonds worth $1000, $600, and $400, respectively. In the Essay Contest, a first-place prize of a $2000 savings bond will be awarded for each high school grade level.

In addition to the Secretary of State, the contest is sponsored and monetary prizes are provided by KEA and KEA Retired, Harp Enterprises, Election Systems & Software, the University of Kentucky Scripps Howard First Amendment Center and Kentuckiana Election Service Co. The University of Kentucky also will assist in judging the essay portion of the Contest.

Secretary Grimes said, “I am grateful to our partners for their generous sponsorship of this program. These exemplary corporate citizens make it possible to recognize and reward the outstanding achievements of Kentucky’s future voters and leaders.”

Prompts, rules, and entry forms for the Essay and Slogan Contest are available on the Secretary of State’s website athttp://www.civics.ky.gov/educators/students/contest.htm. All guidelines must be met for any entry to be considered by Contest judges, and all entries must be electronically submitted by 5 p.m. (EST) on December 1, 2012, or postmarked by that date.